Winter Meal Planning: Warm Meals on a Budget
Cook warming meals during winter. Soups, stews, and hearty dishes.
Winter Storage Strategy
Winter is when fresh produce prices climb, so storage and planning matter more. Keep a stock of long-keeping vegetables, frozen fruit and vegetables, canned tomatoes and dried beans, so you aren't paying winter prices for fresh items in every meal. Buy fresh produce only for the dishes that really need it.
Root Vegetables All Winter
Potatoes, carrots, onions, parsnips, turnips, beets, cabbage and squash stay affordable all winter because they store so well. They're the base of soups, stews, roasts and mashes. A sheet pan of roasted root vegetables with a little oil and salt is one of the cheapest, most satisfying sides you can make.
Frozen Produce Usage
Frozen vegetables and fruit are often cheaper than fresh in winter and just as nutritious, because they're frozen at peak ripeness. Keep frozen peas, corn, spinach, broccoli, mixed vegetables and berries on hand. They go straight into soups, stir-fries, pasta, smoothies and baking without any waste.
Winter Comfort Foods
Winter comfort food is naturally cheap: beef stew, chili, chicken pot pie, baked pasta, shepherd's pie, split pea soup and roast chicken. Most are built around a sale protein, root vegetables and pantry staples, and they make enough for leftovers or a freezer meal.
Beating Winter Monotony
Winter menus can get repetitive. Change the flavours rather than the ingredients: the same chicken thighs can be a curry, a Mexican soup, a lemon and herb roast or a teriyaki stir-fry. Trying one new cuisine a week keeps meals interesting without adding cost.
Winter Meal Ideas
A winter week from the flyer: Monday, beef and barley soup; Tuesday, chicken thigh curry with frozen peas; Wednesday, baked pasta with meat sauce; Thursday, roast pork with root vegetables; Friday, chili with cornbread. Every dinner leans on storage vegetables and pantry staples.
Featured Cities
Winter sales vary by store and city. Browse this week's deals near you for roasts, root vegetables and frozen produce.
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